From the moment he could remember, Brother Ning had already been living as the son of an official. He had only heard his elder sister mention the times when their mother still had to take up needlework and the family was crowded together in Sweetwater Lane.
His elder sister still remembered, but he had no impression of it at all.
He even had little impression of Daming Prefecture. His true memories began in the house at Golden Beam Bridge. He was already over seven years old then, and his mother was still wholeheartedly preparing for him to take the Child Prodigy Examination.
Originally, their family had always been four people: father, mother, elder sister, and him. But after returning to Bianjing, three more people from his maternal grandparents' family were added, which he found somewhat hard to adjust to.
So, he asked his mother: "Why do grandfather and grandmother have to live in our house? Don't they have their own home?"
His mother smiled at him: "When you grow up in the future, will you also not want your father and mother anymore?"
Brother Ning then understood the relationship. When he grew up, he would never part from his mother; it turned out his mother felt the same way. His uncle, Wei Yang, was very good, with an extremely easy-going temperament. Sometimes when his father and mother grew impatient, Uncle remained very patient and even gave him his most treasured mechanical bird.
"Thank you, Uncle." Brother Ning also cherished it dearly.
Wei Yang scratched his head and taught him how to operate the mechanism. Watching his uncle, Brother Ning felt that having more people at home was actually quite lively. Moreover, it was wonderful that someone as grown-up as his uncle could still play with him.
However, he also overheard his mother say privately that once Uncle and the others got married, they should still live outside.
Brother Ning was actually very reluctant to part with Wei Yang. In this family, his father was always busy, his grandfather and grandmother spoke with a very heavy local accent, his mother was pregnant, his elder sister was a girl, so on ordinary days, he could only seek out his uncle to play with.
He could see that his uncle was actually also quite lost. Everyone said Uncle was going to take the Imperial Examination, but Uncle didn't seem any different from him.
However, he was just a child and couldn't articulate why.
Fortunately, Uncle passed the Imperial Examination, and he gained an aunt. They stayed for over a month before leaving for another region. Suddenly, two people left the household, and before he could even process it, he gained a younger brother.
His brother was born so fair. Brother Ning secretly stretched out his own small arm, then quickly put it down and covered it with his sleeve—he really couldn't compare to his brother.
After having a younger brother, Brother Ning actually felt a bit lost too. Because his parents both doted on his brother, he felt a little jealous, but also very worried about him.
A small red dot grew on his brother's head. If it was accidentally broken, the bleeding wouldn't stop. Because of this, his parents were unwilling to let the servants help with bathing, afraid they might break the blood dot on his brother's head.
"Mother, I hope Brother gets better. I just went and kowtowed three times before the family shrine."
His mother smiled: "It's alright. Your father and I are thinking of ways."
Later, somehow, his brother's head got better. He and his cousin, Seventh Young Master Wei, found it incredible when they talked about it. By the way, his relationship with Cousin Seventh Young Master Wei had improved again.
Actually, he didn't know why Cousin Wei particularly liked coming to his house. He knew many of Cousin's friends were from families more wealthy or noble than his own. But since the other party associated with him, he couldn't feel he had to be subservient just because the other's status was higher.
In his mind, Seventh Young Master Wei was the first person to show him how to socialize: what etiquette to use with whom, how to phrase things. For Brother Ning, the manners his parents had taught became concretely manifested.
No matter where they went, this Cousin Wei was absolutely the center of everyone's attention. Even the way he mounted a horse was imitated by many.
At such times, Brother Ning would also be captivated.
His mother would encourage him: "Without accumulating steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a river or sea. He has his strengths. As for you, as long as you persist every day, you will surely reap great rewards in the future."
Brother Ning nodded emphatically.
In reality, he discovered that although his memory was good, Seventh Young Master Wei could grasp something just as quickly after seeing it once. Even in other matters, his mind was always very sharp.
But so what? Brother Ning resolved to study diligently, firstly for himself, and secondly for his mother. Every time he went to the Wei family, he felt his own mother seemed to have to fawn over them in every way—probably he still didn't understand that set of adult behaviors.
And so, he worked hard for a period. When Cousin Wei came to stay at his house, he then discovered that Seventh Young Master Wei actually hadn't learned as fast as he had, nor as solidly.
So what his mother said was true; he actually wasn't inferior to others anymore.
Even his poetry was often praised by his father. He only then realized his poetry was actually quite good, especially his verse, as if he was naturally more gifted than others.
But this still wasn't enough. Every time he wanted to write poetry, he had to consult various books; he hadn't yet achieved mastery. Therefore, he loved staying in the study tower. The tower originally had some books sent over from the old residence by his grandfather, plus books bought by his parents, but these were still insufficient.
After he spoke with his mother, she immediately bought many volumes from outside, all sorts of them, even household management books from other families. Brother Ning even saw many recipes in a household management record, but since neither he nor his mother were good at cooking, they just looked at them for fun.
More numerous were those model examination essays. Brother Ning studied while reading them.
It was probably because his mother had previously inquired with others about the Child Prodigy Examination that word gradually spread. However, unfortunately, the age limit for the Child Prodigy Examination was extended to fifteen, meaning he would have to compete with many people five or six years older than him.
Since that was the case, it was better to take the regular Imperial Examinations.
Actually, he was also somewhat relieved, because he wasn't a true genius. Like the family next door, they also had someone who took the Child Prodigy Examination; that person was a born genius. Even getting up late and without famous teachers, they could master things on their own. He could only rely on hard work.
However, because he didn't take the Child Prodigy Examination, many people secretly laughed at him.
Brother Ning, of course, also heard these criticisms. He held a grudge in his heart, which consequently changed his usual demeanor. In the future, no matter what he did, if something wasn't settled yet, he would be humble, extremely humble.
If he succeeded, he could prove everyone wrong. If he didn't, people would have nothing to criticize.
And so, he passed the entrance exam for the Prefectural School, which required students to live on campus. When he first entered, he was very unaccustomed to it. The latrines were filthy, his things were stolen twice, and he even suffered from constipation.
But no matter what, he overcame it. He could even wash his own undergarments. If others could do it, he certainly could too.
For example, he used to be forgetful and lose things. Now, even a scrap of paper from himself, he could store away properly. He also became more aware of the hardships of life. When the students went out to eat a bowl of noodles, it cost only a few coins. Adding some meat wouldn't exceed ten coins. A bowl of noodles for seven coins came with two quail eggs, shredded bamboo shoots, wood ear fungus—so many toppings.
And these few coins weren't even enough to tip a servant in his own home.
Yet his family was not considered particularly wealthy, merely an ordinary official household. It was just that his mother was quite capable and managed the family estate rather well. A truly affluent family like the Wei family had money flowing like water.
Even the students from humble backgrounds at the government school were much better off than ordinary common families. Sometimes he even wondered, why was the gap between people so vast?
When he said these things to his mother, she replied, "Yes, that's how it is. It's all built up generation by generation. When I was a child, every morning we had thin rice porridge at home. Things only got better after I opened my own shop. But if your maternal grandparents hadn't let me study and learn to read, and hadn't bought a house, I wouldn't have smoothly entered the Embroidery Academy and later opened a shop. Life is quite fair in this way. If your generation doesn't succeed, and the next generation is the same, you might not even have porridge to drink."
Brother Ning sighed, "Sometimes I feel uneasy, son. Some of my classmates at the government school can't even afford pickled vegetables, and they're young but already have gray hair."
"This world also needs people to change it, and you are the perfect candidate. My son, with your upright character, if you enter official service in the future, you will surely be a pillar of the state," his mother encouraged him.
After feeling melancholic for half a day, Brother Ning returned to his studies.
Although life at the government school was frugal, his mother often sent meals to give him a treat. Soon, he was preparing to take the exams for the Imperial Academy. The Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning, and not everyone could gain entry. He was only thirteen; whether he could pass the exams depended entirely on his own efforts.
He studied even harder, step by step advancing until he entered the Imperial Academy, and even after that, he surprisingly passed the imperial examinations and became a Jinshi.
After becoming a Jinshi, it seemed he suddenly transformed into a prodigious young talent. A beautiful wife, status—he seemed to gain everything at once. Even his usually eloquent Seventh Cousin hadn't managed to pass the exams.
But Brother Ning thought of his uncle. His uncle had actually never changed much; he also became a Jinshi but still remained indistinguishable from the crowd.
Therefore, Brother Ning realized that passing the Jinshi exam only represented one stage. The most important thing was still how one conducted oneself as a person. Without understanding how to be a good person, how could one understand how to be an official?
Grasping this principle, he was better able to connect with people's hearts when adjudicating cases.
The law does not exist outside of human sentiments. One shouldn't just consider things from their own perspective but should try to stand in the other party's position.
After serving as a judge in Luoyang for three years, he was recommended by his father-in-law for the Hanlin Academy selection. For him, the Hanlin selection was another period of great growth. Those he once thought were merely skilled at writing elegant articles turned out to be shrewd and capable, not incompetent at all. It was just that they cherished their reputations and were willing to be such upright officials.
While compiling histories at the Historiography Institute, which he initially thought would be dull and tedious, he read many historical texts from past and present. He realized that the affairs of former times and the present weren't so different. It was largely a cycle: a newly established dynasty, after reaching a certain stage, would encounter many problems. Then there would be reformers, whose reforms would inevitably affect many people's interests, leading to factional strife, and so it went, round and round.
Looking at the present situation: his Eldest Uncle, representing the conservative faction, took office, but not long after, his Second Uncle, who supported reform, came to power. Yet both met unfortunate ends.
Second Uncle was demoted, while Eldest Uncle died.
At Eldest Uncle's funeral, Brother Ning had expected everyone to wail and mourn grievously. To his surprise, people were actually evading responsibilities. Only his father was focusing on the crucial matter: "We must first send someone to bring Eldest Brother's body back for burial."
The discussion about who should go to retrieve Eldest Uncle's body dragged on. Couldn't they just send Eldest Cousin Xuan? He couldn't understand it.
Unable to contain himself, he said to his mother, "If it were my father's matter, I would go immediately without hesitation. Eldest Cousin is an hereditary official anyway. With Eldest Uncle's passing, he would have to observe mourning leave. Shouldn't he just go? Why the hesitation?"
His mother smiled and said, "I don't know about that. Normally, that would be the case. But your Eldest Aunt said your Eldest Cousin has never traveled far from home, and also that he needs to stay to receive guests and choose a burial site. Your Eldest Aunt said he couldn't be spared."
Brother Ning thought that in the past, his mother would have directly called Eldest Aunt hypocritical. But now, his mother's words were much more tolerant. He thought perhaps it was because his mother was now the wife of a Chief Councillor, and the gap between her and Eldest Aunt was so vast that there was no need to quarrel with such a person. Sometimes, why are those in higher positions more tolerant? It's as his mother said: when you have everything, you can't be bothered to dwell on such matters.
Speaking of his father's generation: his Eldest Uncle spent his life following the Chief Councillor of the Jixian Hall, which could be considered seeing things through to the end and getting what he sought. His Second Uncle pursued reform his whole life, insisting on changing the world through reform, even involving himself in the struggle for the succession to achieve his goals. That year's dramatic adoption affair ended with him being expelled from the Jiang clan.
Whether good or bad, they both lived their own lives.
His father didn't show strong political leanings. He seemed inclined towards the Shen faction but didn't reject the Chief Councillor of the Jixian Hall either. Such a minister, if he encountered a wise ruler, would certainly become a worthy official of his generation. But if he met a foolish ruler, he would surely become someone like Li Linfu.
To speak bluntly, that's probably how it was. For instance, last time, when his father learned what the Emperor liked, he planned to organize a grand birthday celebration for him. His mother, however, felt it was somewhat excessive. While it would please the Emperor, it would burden the common people.
But he shouldn't think of his father that way. If not for his father, how could his own path have been so smooth?
Thinking this, he looked at his father with a hint of guilt in his eyes.
His father, however, came over and said to him, "Son, let's go home first, the two of us. We'll come back tomorrow morning."
"Has it been decided who will go?" Brother Ning asked.
He heard his father, Jiang Xian, say, "It's settled. Your Cousin Ming from the Fifteenth Uncle's family and the son from the Fourth Uncle's family will go together. In the coming days, we also need to select a burial site and dig the grave. There's plenty to keep us busy."
"I will come tomorrow, son. Father, you are a pillar of the state, busy with official duties. The court cannot do without you," Brother Ning said sincerely.
Jiang Xian smiled, "Between father and son, there's no need for such formalities."
Father and son rode their horses home. Their family was different from others. Generally, as long as parents were alive, families would absolutely not divide the household. But his mother wished for her children to live more freely. So, she bought the large estate next to their garden, had it connected, and renovated it.
Therefore, although father and son were returning to the same home, they went in different directions. He entered through the western corner gate to go home, while his father went towards the east to return to his residence.
His wife, Lu Qionghua, had already prepared a meal and asked, "Mother and I returned a little ahead of you. Mother said I'm too delicate and should rest more, and that I needn't go tomorrow."
Brother Ning said, "Mother is concerned for you. But you are, after all, the eldest daughter-in-law of our third branch. It wouldn't be good if you didn't go."
Actually, Lü-shi didn't yet fully understand her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law was always very polite in her speech, but if one truly became too negligent, she was also quite capable of bringing up old grievances.
Furthermore, he himself was that kind of person—if something could be managed within one's own power, one shouldn't truly trouble others. His mother was also a very strong-willed person. Back in the day, she single-handedly ran a shop to support his father, a scholar. While Father studied at Minister Liu's residence, for every festival throughout the four seasons, Mother always sent the very best gifts. She never felt that just because she was merely a seamstress, she could treat people with less respect. On the contrary, she demanded of herself to be as good as everyone else.
She stubbornly persevered like that, her back nearly breaking from sitting and working long hours, all to provide a good life for the whole family.
Such a person was extremely strict even with her own children, let alone with a daughter-in-law?
After listening, Lu Qionghua said, "Mm, I still should go over."
Brother Ning smiled and said, "However, you mustn't overexert yourself. I would feel distressed if you did."
It was rare for her husband to speak so tenderly. Lu Qionghua blushed. At home, she had often received guidance from her husband, and because of this, she got along extremely well with her mother-in-law. So, when matters arose, the two of them would discuss and deliberate together.
The meal was prepared with novel and clever dishes, and Brother Ning helped himself to an extra half bowl of rice.
After the meal, Brother Ning had someone bring their son over to play with him for a while. Noticing his wife looked weary, he said, "Qionghua, you should go in and rest for a bit. I'll stay here reading, I won't go anywhere else."
This was one reason why Lu Qionghua had been able to fall deeply in love with Brother Ning so quickly. Her constitution was weak, so she often slept poorly and was frequently downcast. Her husband, however, was a man full of vitality and considerate to a fault. When she slept, he would usually stay by her side, which helped her fall asleep quickly.
He even worried about the suffering childbirth might cause her and would specially prepare those medicinal concoctions. With such intimacy in their private life, Lu Qionghua was naturally willing to show filial respect to his parents on his behalf.
"Don't you sneak away now," Lu Qionghua blinked her eyes.
Brother Ning couldn't help but laugh. "Look at you, like a little child. Don't worry, I took a day's leave today, I'll be right here at home."
Only then did Lu Qionghua rest at ease.
However, Brother Ning didn't let her sleep for too long, fearing that if she slept too much during the day, she would toss and turn unable to sleep at night. He woke her after she had slept for half an hour, but when she let out a soft murmur, he couldn't resist making love to her twice more.
This was the advantage of the couple living in a separate residence. Even if they were carried away till dusk and dawn, or spent evenings at the waterside pavilion floating lanterns and grinding rouge paste together, it all counted as marital pleasures, without the worry of elders' criticism.
The next day, he promptly went to his government office.
After seeing her husband off to the yamen, Lu Qionghua first went to her mother-in-law. Mother-in-law Lady Jiang was at her dressing table and, upon seeing her arrive, said, "Didn't we say you didn't need to come today? Why are you here again?"
"How could I let Mother-in-law go alone," Lu Qionghua replied.
Lady Jiang was rather concerned about her health. "It's really not necessary."
She insisted, so her mother-in-law acquiesced. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law soon arrived at the old Jiang family residence. Fortunately, Sister-in-law, the younger Madam Wu, was quite capable and had stepped up to manage the affairs of the eldest branch, keeping everything in good order. The two of them paid their respects and soon returned.
Seeing the younger Madam Wu gave Lu Qionghua some insight. As the wife of the eldest son, when such matters arose and the mother-in-law was getting on in years, she herself should step forward and not always leave her mother-in-law to run about.
Therefore, later on, when help was needed for the funeral affairs of the eldest branch of the Jiang family, it was she who went over, and her mother-in-law agreed.
Only then did she understand why her husband had poured cold water on her when her mother-in-law was doting on her—this was the reason. Even someone like Lady Jiang, while she pitied her frail health, she admired even more those women who could shoulder responsibility, those who were capable.
She really hadn't been able to distinguish good advice from bad.
She poured out all these thoughts to Brother Ning as well. Brother Ning gave an indulgent smile and said to her, "I'm thinking, after Uncle's funeral is over, to request a provincial posting. This is also to avoid suspicion. What do you think? Would you prefer to stay at home, or come with me? Selfishly, I think it might be better for you to stay home."
The long journey could easily cause physical discomfort.
But Lu Qionghua shook her head. "Why do you always treat me like a porcelain doll? Actually, before, I was just somewhat depressed due to certain matters, my health isn't that poor. I want to go with you."
"What about our son then?" Brother Ning knew how much his wife adored this child.
Lu Qionghua said somewhat reluctantly, "How about asking Mother to help look after him for a while?"
Brother Ning laughed. "Mother doesn't know how to look after children. She found looking after us lot bothersome enough."
In this world, there are mothers-in-law who can't wait to snatch grandchildren from their daughters-in-law, and then there is Lady Jiang, the kind who, once the children are grown, doesn't continue to interfere.
Brother Ning also gave his wife reassurance: "In my heart, there is only Qionghua. So Qionghua must rest assured."
Sure enough, Lu Qionghua blushed. "You think I'm the jealous type? What are you imagining?"
"Although you aren't, I personally have no taste for such things." Brother Ning had grown up seeing his parents deeply devoted to each other. Later, during his year as a judicial officer, he found that almost all the cases, aside from those involving money, were crimes of passion. It was unnecessary, truly unnecessary.
He and Lu Qionghua had a good relationship, and there were more important things to do.
Little did he know that Lu Qionghua was also outwardly gentle but inwardly strong. Her own mother had been the matriarch of the main branch of the Lü family; while her father was away, her mother managed everything. But her mother-in-law was different, almost always following her husband's lead.
Whether she followed him or not, she would have to bear many responsibilities.
Therefore, she resolved to take the child and accompany her husband to his provincial post.
Brother Ning heard this and thought it unsuitable. He even wanted his mother to dissuade her: "Your son is going out to handle official business. Your daughter-in-law's constitution is somewhat frail, and Little Lang is still young. It really wouldn't do."
"I leave it up to you two," his mother said, respecting their decision.
Brother Ning spoke with his wife again, and she managed to persuade him with much coaxing. Only then did he feel at ease.
Their situation now was different from his parents' back then. His parents had had no reliable relatives; their own family was less dependable than outsiders. He, however, was different—his parents were reliable, giving him peace of mind on the home front.
He remembered his mother once saying that when Father went to take up his post in Wu County, his sister was a little older, but he himself was not yet one year old. Mother said she was terribly afraid of falling ill on the journey to Wu County, worried sick. Yet Mother's health was quite robust, and Lü-shi's couldn't compare.
After his eldest uncle's funeral, he was assigned the post of Assistant Prefect of Xiangzhou.
But before leaving, what worried him most wasn't actually his wife and child, but rather Ding-ge'er. He specially instructed him: "You know most things, kid, but there's one rule: you must stay home and be filial to Father and Mother. Don't make the elders angry. You're not a child anymore. If you ever face something truly difficult, something inconvenient to discuss with Father and Mother, just write to me."
It was meant as concern for his younger brother, but the lad said, "Brother, you'd better leave quickly. Any more and you'll sound like a nagging old woman."
Brother Ning shook his head, but ultimately urged his horse onto the street, hastening to reach Xiangzhou, for it was said a major case awaited his attention there.
